AI investor FOMO: Has AI supply outstripped demand? December 8, 2024 Investors are pouring billions into AI, but has supply now outstripped demand? Mike Smeed looks at how AI funding has become misbalanced.
The £277bn golden ticket: Why private equity is so interested in professional services December 8, 2024 Private equity interest in the professional services has skyrocketed especially for those with accountancy arms, with major deals being announced nearly every week
Shoppers urged to support small businesses as confidence wobbles December 7, 2024 The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday, following signs that tax hikes have dented confidence across the sector. Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas The campaign group said the public is [...]
Keir Starmer: Planning regime ‘suffocating aspirations of working families’ December 6, 2024 Writing in the Times, Starmer said the planning system had become "increasingly ruinous" and was "suffocating the aspirations of working families".
Zopa Bank hunts for fintech acquisitions after £68m fundraise December 6, 2024 Zopa Bank is on the hunt for acquisitions as the digital lender looks to step up its challenge to the likes of Revolut, Monzo and Starling ahead of a potential float on the London Stock Exchange. The London-based fintech, which launched as a fully licenced bank in 2020, said on Friday it had raised €82m [...]
CBI downgrades forecast for UK economy after Budget December 6, 2024 The UK economy is set for slower than expected and “unimpressive” growth in 2025 thanks partly to punitive measures introduced in October’s Budget, a leading business group has predicted. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) now expects Britain’s economy to grow by just 1.5 per cent next year, it said in its latest economic forecast, [...]
Can CEOs learn from politicians and should they? December 6, 2024 The author of James Cleverly’s award-winning Tory leadership speech on what politicians do differently to the c-suite Can business leaders learn from political leaders? Should they? I say yes, and yes. But who am I? I have coached both types of leaders for years: business leaders in 17 PLCs, multiple smaller businesses, and startups, over [...]
Gatwick and Birmingham airport chiefs urge Rachel Reeves to tackle business rates threat December 5, 2024 Chief executives from Gatwick and Birmingham Airport have criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves' planned changes to business rates.
New HSBC boss continues leadership reshuffle with more executives to depart December 5, 2024 HSBC has announced the departure of several senior executives in the latest leadership reshuffle overseen by its new chief executive. Georges Elhedery, who succeeded Noel Quinn in September, said the changes will help Europe’s biggest bank “better focus on the businesses where we have clear competitive advantage”. They are part of a sweeping restructuring of [...]
Starmer pledges to deliver ‘higher living standards’ in milestones speech December 5, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deliver “higher living standards” across the UK by the end of this parliament – but did not put a figure on his target. The Prime Minister aimed to flesh out his pre-election promise to kickstart economic growth, as he set out a set of new “milestones” in a major [...]